The Adventure of the Norwood Builder (short story)

A young lawyer is hired by a stranger to draw up a will. To the lawyer’s surprise, the client makes him the sole beneficiary. The next day the lawyer is alarmed to read of the man’s murder in the newspaper. Knowing that the police are likely to suspect him of the crime, he calls on Sherlock Holmes. Before he can finish his story, Inspector Lestrade arrives, hot on his trail. Lestrade is sure that Holmes has got it wrong this time. Of course, Holmes proves him wrong but allows Lestrade to take credit for solving the crime.

This case is almost too easy for Holmes. It doesn’t take a lot of effort for him to solve the crime. He usually finds pleasure in the intellectual stimulation of solving a complex puzzle. In this case, his show more pleasure seems to come from listening to Lestrade repeatedly draw the wrong conclusions about the case. show less

Another superb story: The Norwood Builder is Jonas Oldacre, 52, reclusive retired bachelor, who vanished the night before (July 1894) from his house, not found when the lumber in his yard caught fire in a tremendous conflagration. His bed was unused, his safe open, papers scattered, signs of struggle, a large object dragged from safe to woodpile then burned, and blood on an oak cane belonging to late-night visitor, junior lawyer John McFarlane. The suspect bursts into Baker Street distraught, showing Holmes the news article that diverted him from his homeward train, and begs Holmes to help him.
As McFarlane relates his story, Lestrade, accompanied by constables, suddenly arrests his man, but agrees to listen to his story for half an show more hour. Yesterday at 3 pm, ferret-faced Oldacre, his name known as an acquaintance of the youth's parents, bade McFarlane turn scribbles into a legal will, with McFarlane learning to his surprise that Oldacre has made him his sole heir as Oldacre lacks any other family and has heard good things about him due to his past connection to McFarlane's parents. After witnessing and signing, the benefactor asked him for dinner at nine, to see essential paperwork details, and not tell his parents. Around midnight they finished sorting paper into sealed envelopes, and, admonished not to disturb the housekeeper, he was ushered, without his cane, out of the French window, safe still ajar. After the constables leave with their prisoner, Holmes explains the will's rough draft varies from clear to unreadable where the writer's train stopped at stations, then rumbled roughly.
Holmes investigates. At Blackheath, fluffy little mother McFarlane reveals Oldacre to be a vicious vengeful ex-suitor, rejected after he loosed a cat in an aviary. At Norwood trouser buttons from Oldacre's tailor are found among charred organic remains, examination of the remaining documents reveals allusions to missing valuable deeds, and a low bank balance attributable to recent large cheques to Mr. Cornelius. Defiant, guilty-eyed housekeeper Mrs. Lexington smelled burnt flesh the night before, and knows more than she says, that the visitor's hat and cane were both left in the front hall.
Next morning, Lestrade telegrams Holmes to come see McFarlane's bloody right thumbprint below the hat-peg, pointed out by Lexington. Holmes knows the evidence was not there yesterday, and minutely examines the whole house. He asks Lestrade for loud-voiced constables, and all cry "fire" after large straw bundles are lit, to smoke out their missing witness, Oldacre, from behind solid-seeming walls. Holmes gives Lestrade the victory, wagers one of the thumbprints sealing the safe papers is McFarlane's, that Oldacre filled with blood and transferred. Mr. Cornelius is probably an alter identity Oldacre had intended to take on permanently, the bitter man seeking revenge on his former lover by creating the illusion that he was murdered by her only child. Holmes notes with amusement that the thumb-print was actually the give-away clue; prior to the print's discovery, even Holmes suspected that McFarlane might be guilty, but Oldacre's inability to know when to stop creating his illusion caused him to expose himself. Under guard in the parlor, the villain whines that he intended it all to be a joke, and refuses to admit what flesh burned in the fire, so Holmes suggests Watson ascribe rabbits. Oldacre will be charged with conspiracy to commit murder and "Mr Connelius" bank account will be confiscated by Oldacre's crediters.
I recomment this book to all readers that enjoy a well written mystery book. show less

This is one of my favorite case. After I read this case,I thought Mr.McFarlane was
just idiot person,but when I first heard his story,I did'n t feel guilty to Mr.Oldaker.
I thought he was killed by someone. But he was't.. He was the true murderer!
He tried to kill Mr.McFarlane. This was out of my expect! I was cheated by him like Mr.McFarlane.
Only Holmes revealed Oldaker' attempt and catched him! He was too clever! I respected him!